I had a Janome but can't remember what model but it was a lemon right from the factory and Janome wouldn't do anything to help me. I then got a Viking 500 and sewed it to death, literally as the mother board died. I then purchased a new Viking Sapphire 855 last August and I sure like it. The only dislike is it does not have a blanket stitch. My mother has a babylock serger and it doesn't hold a candle to my Viking serger. No matter what you buy you always have a chance of getting that "one lemon in the bunch".